For the past two years, the Bogardus Board of Trustees has collaborated with EAA Chapter 105 to have a flight training scholarship program funded by donations from the Bogardus Memorial Trust. Last year, they funded four scholarships, and this year it was expanded to provide six scholarship recipients with $1,000 each.

George Bogardus died in 1997 and left his estate in trust to EAA Chapter 105. One of his desires was that the chapter would support youth education in the world of aviation. Through these scholarships EAA has been able to continue George’s legacy and enable local students to pursue their dreams of flying.

These scholarships have assisted both Kyle and Clayton in financing their flight training and helping them achieve their dreams of becoming professional pilots. Kyle and Clayton started their flight training at Hillsboro Aviation in the fall of 2011.

“So far I have loved my flight training, it is an awesome challenge. There are a different set of obstacles that I must overcome on every flight. This challenge is the reason that I love flying. The scholarship allowed me to focus on my training. Without the scholarship I would not be where I am in my training,” said Kyle.

“Flying has always been a passion of mine. Thanks to this scholarship, I am only one flight away from becoming a private pilot. I plan to continue my training to become a commercial pilot,” said Clayton.

“Both Kyle and Clayton sought out our program and have been involving themselves in everything that the aviation community can offer them. I could tell from the moment that I met each of them that they had a serious passion for flight. I look forward to hearing the news of their advancing aviation careers,” said Michelle Smith, Youth Activities Coordinator for EAA Chapter 105.

Headquartered in Hillsboro, Oregon, Hillsboro Aviation has been in business since 1980. The company’s diverse operations include airplane and helicopter flight training, airplane and helicopter charter, aircraft sales, maintenance and avionics services. Its aircraft fleet includes more than 70 aircraft ranging from single-engine piston and multi-engine turbine King Air airplanes to Robinson R22s and turbine-powered Bell helicopters. Hillsboro Aviation is one of the largest combined airplane and helicopter flight training schools in the U.S. It is also the only U.S. Independent Representative for Bell Helicopter, the northwestern U.S. dealer for Cessna single-engine piston aircraft and a dealer for the Robinson Helicopter Company.